Mackenzie River faces threats from global warming and poor monitoring

A panel of nine international scientists assembled for the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy has authored a report documenting the dangers that Canada’s Mackenzie River basin might be facing because of poor monitoring and global warming, Phys.org reported.

The Mackenzie Basin is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The Basin comprises an area three times the size of France and is known for its wide array of wildlife, influence on bird migrations and effectiveness in maintaining climate.

Researchers determined that the biggest threat to the basin was possible contamination from a nearby mining site, which would be nearly impossible to remedy.

Additionally, the thawing of the land’s ice and snow cover could place the region’s function as a temperature regulator for the Northern Hemisphere in jeopardy.